The Advocate Magazine 2024 Volume 47 Number 1 | Page 17

The Impact on Us of Switching to Telehealth

The Impact on Us of Switching to Telehealth

SPECIAL FOCUS
How to keep you rself — and your practice — thriving continued from page 16
On more than one occasion , I ( Shaquille ) have waited impatiently in a virtual room for clients to arrive , noticing minutes into the session that they were stuck in another virtual room somewhere waiting on me . But it goes beyond this : Our participants used phrases like “ less information ” and “ limited transfer of energy ” and even “ like wearing a condom ” when working in telehealth spaces , versus “ feeling closer ” and “ more humanness ” when working in-person with another . Moreover , the types of information and stimulation in each space are different in lived experience , and need to be honestly considered when an LCMHC is deciding on what level of hybridity to practice .
3 . Finances
Our research points to the influence that finances have on informing , and sometimes impinging on , counselor decision-making processes in terms of hours worked and modality selection . Though in many places telehealth therapy appointments are reimbursed at the same rate as in-person sessions , that ’ s not at all universal .
“ What Is the Reimbursement Rate for Telehealth ?”— is one of the questions answered in the Aug . 9 , 2022 , Therapy Brands article , “ Get Paid for Telehealth : 7 Questions to Ask Insurance Companies .” Their advice :
“ Find out if the telehealth reimbursement rate is the same as a regular appointment . Not every state has a
parity law , and they widely differ from each other . In addition , some insurance companies exploit loopholes to deny telehealth services or reduce reimbursement , such as claiming overuse or lack of effectiveness . A payer may decide that a service is not medically necessary for the patient . Some payers might set different requirements for in-person sessions and telehealth . Some providers can bill for telehealth while others might not be eligible .”
“ The question of whether insurance covers teletherapy depends on your provider and the state you live in ,” notes a March 2024 Forbes article on “ 5 Best Affordable Online Therapy Options of 2024 .”
We ’ ve heard stories from LCMHCs in the state of Washington of lower insurance reimbursement for telehealth sessions , which has implications for whether counselors can afford to keep a physical office space or not . Notably , I ( Shaquille ) would not have been able to afford to open my practice without the option to offer entirely virtual services .
One participant noted the tension ( s ) they feel from their counselor peers , who seem to apply pressure for others like them to move more fully online . In contrast , another participant ( over ) extended themselves financially to secure a multi-suite office space to be able to have the opportunity to rub shoulders with colleagues in real time , only to then find themselves practicing as a solo practitioner in-person . When their colleagues decided to stay with the conveniences of working online after COVID restrictions were lifted , they became literally the only one in a multi-office suite and gave up their portion of the lease .
Our Lived Experiences
As our team has considered our research findings relative to our own lived experiences , one of the key tensions that has emerged relates to the multiple forms of exposure that counseling requires .
When clients come to a physical office space , the therapist is more physically exposed to the client in ways that they are not via telehealth . When meeting in person , questions around whether to shower or to wear “ great clothes ” ( a participant ’ s
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The Advocate Magazine 2024 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) ww . amhca . org 17